07/01/2012

Writing, better than eating bugs!

I am very happy that my Godmother isn't the fairy kind of Godmother. I'm happy that I don't have to live in slave labor conditions, held captive by my Father's evil widow and her hideous daughters to cook and clean for them and their evil cat. I am happy that my friends aren't only mice that I dress in matching outfits who speak fluent English and birds that I have complete conversations with even though they only speak bird. I am happy to not be stuck owning only one pair of heels, that are made out of glass! (there is no breaking-in glass!) Bottom line, I am happy that I don't have to be in Walt Disney's version of Cinderella in order to have a wonderful Godmother. My realistic Godmother (we will call her Janine, as that is her name.) didn't hold in her hand a magic wand but rather a glass of wine. She didn't sing me a catchy song filled to the brim with made up words, but rather gave me some great advice. While we were lounging on the University of Chicago Law School's Wade Pool Lawn (or better known as the UCLSWPL) she asked me why I wasn't writing anymore and then she told me why I should. Some people like to knit or study bugs or run marathons.... I like to write. I should do that then.

I certainly don't expect many people to read my writings, it's not a career thing, it's a hobby. My real issue is my lack of things to write about. If I was a master knitter I could write about my latest sweater creation and how much all my friends will love it as their Christmas gifts. Exhibit A:

If I had a P.H.D. in Entomology I could write about the benefits of eating bugs and 1012 things you didn't know about the Dung Beetle. If I ran marathons I could journal about my training, my impressive six pack (the ab muscle version) and try to convince you that running for 5 hours straight was fun (It would take me much, much longer than that by the way). But with yarn, cockroaches and shin splints not an option for me, I needed some inspiration. I found a book online called 642 Things to Write About. I have to admit that I was not on the internet on some grand literary quest. I was actually shopping for dresses on Modcloth.com (best website EVER!) and they had it in their home section. It looked perfect but they were sold out. I had decided I wanted it so I decided to start my search. It seemed that nearly every website I frequented, Anthropology, Uncommon Goods, Barnes and Noble, even Amazon had sold the book but they were all sold out. When Amazon is sold out you know something's up. I resorted to picking up the phone and found out that the publisher had run out and even they weren't expected to print more copies until September. Again, not being turned away, I went to the streets. I found it at the University of WA book store and here it is, 642 things for me to write about (of which about 97 of them I probably actually will write about). Motivation, check. Inspiration, check! Glad to be back doing something I like doing because, lets just be honest, sweaters should be made by Bannana Republic, cockroaches should be exterminated and marathons should be driven!